Our top choices for the best soccer cleats for beginners:
- Modern cleat: Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro — the most famous soccer cleat with tons of technology that can help you become more efficient on the soccer field.
- Classic Cleat: Nike Premier 3 — the cleat with the best value for money. It has premium materials and all the elements of a good soccer cleat.
As a beginner in soccer, having proper equipment is crucial to begin training effectively. Of all your soccer gear, cleats are especially vital since they directly interact with both the ground and the ball.
In soccer, players frequently leap off the ground and land with a force equivalent to three times their body weight, making it a high-impact sport. Achieving peak performance requires commitment to enhancing skills, strength, and conditioning through rigorous training.
Starting late in soccer does not hinder your ability to enhance fitness and skills. However, dedicating substantial time to beginner training, mastering each fundamental of the sport is essential. Enhancing your footwork, dribbling, juggling, shooting, and other skills requires the support of high-quality soccer cleats that can elevate your performance.
What are the best soccer cleats for beginners?
Beginner soccer cleats provide comfort, protection, and enhanced ball touch through specialized strike zones. Opt for all-around cleats for improved ground control, or select top-tier models for optimal performance.
Firm Ground Soccer Cleats for Beginners
You can have multiple pairs of cleats and rotate different shoes between training.
New Balance Furon v7+ Destroy
Most effective positions: Goalkeeper and Winger
The New Balance Furon v7+ Destroy soccer cleat is an excellent choice for newcomers to the sport due to its lightweight design, which enhances speed and agility on the field. Its comfortable fit, supported by a breathable upper material, ensures that players can focus on their game without discomfort.
The cleat features a durable outsole with strategically placed studs, providing optimal traction and stability on various playing surfaces. Additionally, its stylish appearance appeals to young athletes looking to make a statement while playing.
Shop On AmazonPUMA Ultra 5 Pro
Most effective positions: Striker, Winger, Central Midfielder, Left/Right Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Center Back, and Sweeper
The PUMA Ultra 5 Pro is an excellent choice for beginners in soccer due to its lightweight design, which enhances speed and agility on the field. The shoe features a comfortable fit with a soft synthetic upper that provides good touch and control of the ball.
Its responsive outsole offers solid traction, allowing new players to maintain stability during play. Additionally, the affordable price point makes it accessible for those just starting their soccer journey, ensuring that beginners can invest in quality footwear.
Shop On AmazonPUMA King Top
The PUMA King Top is an excellent choice for those new to soccer due to its affordability and combination of comfort, support, and performance. The soft leather upper provides a great touch on the ball, helping beginners develop their skills with confidence.
Its lightweight construction allows for easy movement, while the cushioned insole offers superior comfort during play. The lace-up design also ensures a secure fit, reducing the risk of blisters and enhancing stability. Additionally, the classic design appeals to new players seeking a stylish yet functional option.
Shop On AmazonAdidas Copa Mundial
Most effective position: Goalkeeper
The Adidas Copa Mundial, the most classic shoe from Adidas on this list, is favored by some professional players for major competitions. Considered by many as the greatest of all time, this shoe might endure as long as soccer remains.
The Copa Mundial features a reliable kangaroo leather upper that stretches from the heel to the forefoot. The soft K-leather is thicker than many other leather cleats, potentially offering added impact protection. It includes a cozy footbed and a classic soleplate with extended, all-conical studs created for stability and comfort on firm, dry fields.
Shop On AmazonAdidas F50 Pro
Most effective positions: Striker, Center Forward, Winger, Central Midfielder, Left/Right Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Fullback, Center Back, and Wingback
The Adidas F50 Pro is ideal for beginners in soccer due to its lightweight design, providing enhanced speed and agility. The shoe features a comfortable fit and good traction, which helps new players maintain balance and control on the field. Its cushioned insole offers support during play, reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, the stylish look of the F50 Pro can boost confidence for those just starting their soccer journey.
Shop On AmazonAdidas Predator Pro
Most effective positions: Goalkeeper, Defensive Midfielder, Central Midfielder, and Attacking Midfielder
The Adidas Predator Pro is an excellent choice for new soccer players due to its combination of comfort, support, and performance-enhancing features. Its lightweight construction allows for easy movement, while the cushioned insole provides ample comfort during play. The textured surface enhances ball control, helping beginners develop their skills more effectively. Additionally, the shoe’s supportive fit ensures stability, reducing the risk of injury as players learn the fundamentals of the game.
Shop On AmazonNike Premier 3
The Nike Premier 3 is a soccer cleat that offers great value for its price. It incorporates all the essential features of a high-quality cleat and has been updated to have a more stylish appearance than the previous model. Despite its affordable price point, this cleat rivals top-tier leather cleats that are three times more expensive in terms of quality and performance. Made with premium leather (not synthetic) and equipped with modern technology, the Nike Premier 3 delivers excellent comfort and performance on the soccer field.
The Premier 3 features a complete kangaroo leather upper that offers a traditional feel and anti-stretch reinforcement to prevent excessive stretching during play. Its contoured insole complements the outsole, molding to your foot’s shape. Additionally, the boot is equipped with shorter conical studs for enhanced stability and improved foot functionality.
Shop On NikeNike Tiempo Legend 10 Pro
Most effective positions: Goalkeeper, Center Back, Sweeper, Defensive Midfielder, Central Midfielder, and Center Forward
The Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Pro is an excellent choice for beginner soccer players for several reasons. Its soft, FlyTouch Pro engineered leather upper provides a comfortable fit and enhances ball control, making it easier for new players to develop their skills.
The cleat features a cushioned insole for added comfort during play, reducing the risk of blisters and fatigue. The responsive traction pattern on the outsole offers stability and grip on various surfaces, helping beginners maintain balance while learning to navigate the field. Additionally, its sleek design and variety of color options make it visually appealing, boosting players’ confidence as they step onto the pitch.
Shop On NikeNike Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro
Most effective positions: Center Forward, Striker, Attacking Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Left/Right Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, and Fullback
Despite having one of the thinnest uppers among the listed options, the Mercurial Vapor combines comfort, flexibility, support, and shock absorption in a manner appreciated by professional athletes and certain sports medicine specialists.
The Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 is extremely light, offers great comfort, and delivers exceptional ball control. It features one of the most aggressive sole designs, created to move with the foot in every direction for superb traction and grip during rapid acceleration.
Shop On NikeNike Phantom GX 2 Pro
Most effective positions: Center Forward, Second Striker, Attacking Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Center Back, Sweeper, and Goalkeeper
The Nike Phantom GX 2 Pro is ideal for beginners in soccer for several reasons. Its lightweight design enhances agility, allowing new players to move quickly and confidently on the field. The soft synthetic upper provides excellent touch and control, helping novices to learn dribbling and passing techniques effectively.
The shoe’s cushioned insole ensures comfort during extended play, reducing the risk of fatigue. Additionally, the traction pattern on the outsole offers superior grip, enabling beginners to maintain balance and stability while learning to navigate the game.
Shop On NikeLeather Vs. Synthetic
The synthetic material makes the soccer cleat super lightweight. And today’s trend is ultra-thin upper so the material can stay close to your foot (like a second skin) to deliver a barefoot-like sensation and better control on the ball. But this design has a drawback in terms of protection because it will increase the risk of impact injury.
So if you want more protection, go for the leather upper. This material is soft and more durable than synthetic and will give you a custom fit over time. Leather is also weather-resistant. If you want the thickest leather uppers, look for them in the classics.
Competitive Vs. Recreational Soccer Cleats
If your purpose in playing soccer is recreational, you can choose an Academy soccer cleat or a low-end model. It is the cheapest version of the shoe it represents, yet heavier and can be more durable. But with the low-end model, you’ll give up on support, comfort, and performance.
If you are already playing in tournaments, go for the highly competitive (Elite) or semi-competitive (Pro) models because they perform better on the soccer field. They are the most expensive but worth the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right soccer cleats?
Choose soccer cleats that are snug yet comfortable. If you are new to soccer, you may choose an all-rounder soccer cleat so you can be effective in any field position. Make sure they don’t have negative spaces around the heel and on both sides of the foot. You can allow up to ½ inch of space between your toes and the end of the shoe.
Do soccer cleats make a difference or do cleats matter in soccer?
Yes. That is why elite players only wear higher-grade soccer cleats. These top-tier shoes have the best materials and technologies, which can help you perform better on the soccer field. They are also more lightweight than lower-tier cleats.
What is the best youth soccer cleat?
The best youth soccer cleat offers comfort, support, and protection. You can choose an all-rounder soccer cleat so you can be effective in any field position. It may not be a top-tier model, but the shoe must be excellent enough to complement the growing skill of a young player.
What soccer cleats are best for wide feet?
The soccer cleats that are best for wide feet are wide-fitting cleats. The best examples of these cleats are Nike Phantom GT2, Nike Tiempo Legend 9, and Adidas Predator Edge. These shoes are also comfortable for regular-sized feet.
Are soccer cleats the same size as regular shoes?
You can choose a soccer cleat of the same size as your regular shoe. But make sure they are snug and comfortable in every part of the foot, with up to ½ inch of space in the front.
Are soccer cleats supposed to fit tight?
Yes, soccer cleats must be comfortably tight. An excellent cleat is well-padded inside, with soft materials that can eliminate negative spaces in every part of the foot except in the front, where your toes should not touch the front of the shoe.
What cleats do most soccer players wear?
Most soccer players wear speed cleats, which have synthetic materials. And among professional soccer players, the siblings Nike Mercurial Vapor 15 and Superfly 9 are the most famous, with over 2,340 elite players using them in high-level competitions.
How do you know if soccer cleats are too small?
Soccer cleats are too small if they fit uncomfortably. It may be that your toes are touching the front of the shoe, or there is not enough room in the toe box for your toes to splay.
Do soccer cleats help you kick?
Yes, soccer cleats are shoes designed for kicking. They have technologies on the upper that can give you power and accuracy. Some soccer cleats can even make the ball swerve.
Should I buy soccer cleats?
Yes. If you are playing soccer, you should buy proper equipment. Among all your athletic gear, your soccer cleats are the most important. They will help improve your footwork, dribbling, juggling, shooting, and so on. Your regular shoes cannot do these tasks.
Can you play soccer with regular shoes?
No. Regular shoes don’t have the technology to control the ball and the ground. If you use running shoes, you will be prone to injury because they have poor support for side-to-side movements. The outsoles of regular shoes don’t have the technology to grip the ground while moving in all directions. And regular shoes are poor at kicking the ball.
Should you go up a size in soccer cleats?
You may go for your regular size in soccer because soccer cleats have the design to fit regular-sized feet. However, if you have wide feet, you must go for wide-fitting shoes like Nike Phantom GT2 and Adidas Predator Edge. If you have narrow feet, go for narrow-fitting shoes like the Morelia Neo III and the Mercurials.
How do I know my soccer shoe size?
Your soccer shoe size is the same as your regular shoe size. But soccer cleats will give you a snug, close-to-the-foot feeling to offer you support for multidirectional movements. They feel like armored shoes with protective properties.
Should cleats fit snugly?
Soccer cleats should be snug yet comfortable. The snug fit will give you better performance on the soccer field. Unlike regular shoes where you can allow spaces inside, with soccer cleats, there should be no negative spaces inside the shoe.
Should you buy football cleats a size bigger?
When choosing a football cleat, go for the same size as your regular shoe. But don’t be surprised that it will provide you with a snug fit. Football cleats must be snug yet comfortable for you to have the support that goes with the foot in all directions.
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